The second problem is the side characters. Considering that it is the main point of conflict, it should have been handled better and with more frequency. Actually, her father doesn't really appear until later on. The debt is not properly mentioned until later on. The problem starts with the characters' development, more precisely, the lack thereof. Shoujo cliche, but it's cool - that's coming from a shoujo fan at least. Not so different from Hirunaka no Ryuusei at this point, considering the main characters are around the same age gap, despite the men having completely opposite personalities. It all starts when Fumi Ohno starts working as a live-in housekeeper to Akatsuki Kibikino, a writer. Somehow, her writing skills have worsened.
When I started reading Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet, I hoped she had improved by then. While it was a manga I, overall, enjoyed, I couldn't help but feel that it could have been so much better had it not be rushed. I first heard about Mika Yamamori because of Hirunaka no Ryuusei.
